Sad News

[Gnarwhal]

I'm airing our evening newscast at work right now that comes up to us from Sacramento, and they're reporting that a man on the clergy from St. Timothy Antiochian Orthodox Church in Fairfield, CA has been accused of molestation and a couple other things.

The clergy of the diocese contacted Fairfield Police Department's Major Crime Unit and reported possible molestations had been committed by one of their pastors. The alleged molester is Robert Ruark, 65, from Suisun City, also known as Father Silas. He coordinated the acolyte program for boys eight years old and older.

http://www.fox40.com/news/headlines...hodox-molested-teens-20120629,0,3606974.story

I hate to see this happen both because my heart goes out to the victims, but I also know there's some ignorant people (both Christians and not) out there somewhere who would love to use this kind of news to take pot shots at Orthodoxy and make sweeping generalizations, like how badly Roman Catholicism's PR hit was after the scandals a few years back.

Anybody from this area know more about the situation? Maybe something the news isn't reporting?

My prayers are with the victims.

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[Dorothea]

It happens. Not just in one area. People are humans, and are broken, and sometimes, these terrible things happen in churches, as well as in any position of authority, i.e., teacher and student, psychologist and patient, doctor and patient, congressman and aide, etc. It's very unfortunate and sad.

If this turns out to be totally confirmed and true, I will be keeping Fr. Silas, the boys who were molested by him, and the families and whole parish in my prayers. May the Lord have mercy on Fr. Silas.

 

[Gnarwhal]

It happens. Not just in one area. People are humans, and are broken, and sometimes, these terrible things happen in churches, as well as in any position of authority, i.e., teacher and student, psychologist and patient, doctor and patient, congressman and aide, etc. It's very unfortunate and sad.

If this turns out to be totally confirmed and true, I will be keeping Fr. Silas, the boys who were molested by him, and the families and whole parish in my prayers. May the Lord have mercy on Fr. Silas.

Well said.

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[ArmyMatt]

ugh, Lord have mercy on all involved

 

[MariaRegina]

Lord have mercy.

 

[ProScribe]

Yes, some cases of Pedophilia are rare and unusual, other cases happen because of other reasons.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

I'll pray for the victims first, the predator later.

It's a shame that something like this happens. While Orthodox occurrences of this are far less prevalent than Catholic ones, one is too much. And these scandals embolden the atheistic, secular public to have even more ammo against the faithful....hypocrisy and a lack of credibility in certain priests creates such rotten fruit

 

[Gnarwhal]

I'll pray for the victims first, the predator later.

It's a shame that something like this happens. While Orthodox occurrences of this are far less prevalent than Catholic ones, one is too much. And these scandals embolden the atheistic, secular public to have even more ammo against the faithful....hypocrisy and a lack of credibility in certain priests creates such rotten fruit

My sentiments exactly.

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[Ortho_Cat]

i'll reserve judgment until he is proven guilty

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

well i think everyone in here will, cat. but, sadly, even the image of impropriety nowdays taints the well. Sucks. it's a culture looking for a reason NOT to believe.

i'll reserve judgment until he is proven guilty

 

[bambooman1971]

Lord have mercy!

 

[Eastern Drifter]

Lord have mercy.

 

[MrJim]

It's everywhere...even the "humble" mennonites aren't immune; from last week:

Former Lancaster Mennonite administrator pleads guilty in sex case

Read more: Former Lancaster Mennonite administrator pleads guilty in sex case - News
​

 

[ArmyMatt]

It's everywhere...even the "humble" mennonites aren't immune; from last week:

Former Lancaster Mennonite administrator pleads guilty in sex case

Read more: Former Lancaster Mennonite administrator pleads guilty in sex case - News
​

ugh, my hometown. Lord have mercy

 

[The Unorthodox Orthodox]

If the pastor is guilty, the Chirch should excommunicate him.
Any sigh of corruption should not be tolerated by the Orthodox Chirch!

 

[ArmyMatt]

If the pastor is guilty, the Chirch should excommunicate him.
Any sigh of corruption should not be tolerated by the Orthodox Chirch!

true, but if he truly repents, he should be received back

 

[Colleen1]

true, but if he truly repents, he should be received back

I understand what you are saying but dealing with sex crimes and certain types of abuse is a tricky business especially if the victims are still in church, etc.

 

[Dorothea]

I understand what you are saying but dealing with sex crimes and certain types of abuse is a tricky business especially if the victims are still in church, etc.

I agree with Matt about repentance has to happen for the priest to come back to the church, and I also understand your point. That makes a lot of sense. I got the idea the priest couldn't go back as a priest, and certainly not at the same parish, but as a layperson. Somebody correct me if I'm saying something not correct here.

 

[Protoevangel]

Lord have mercy! I visited that parish, as an inquirer.

 

[Protoevangel]

I got the idea the priest couldn't go back as a priest, and certainly not at the same parish, but as a layperson. Somebody correct me if I'm saying something not correct here.

This seems to be what I remember reading once.